Bourbon Offshore inaugurates first training center in Marseilles

PARIS, FRANCE — November 22, 2007, Bourbon Offshore inaugurated its first training center in France in the city of Marseilles.

Developed by Offshore Simulator Center (OSC) in Norway, the training center was designed to provide seamen with theoretical knowledge and practical training in anchor handling operations. It will train crews in anchor handling operations under real conditions to ensure acquisition of the skills required for both new employees and those already working on vessels. The center includes a fully equipped bridge, the deck portion of the vessel and the classrooms needed for theoretical courses and debriefing.

Bourbon aims to recruit 4,000 new employees by 2010 to handle the substantial growth in its fleet of new generation vessels. The simulator is an integral component of Bourbon’s internal training policy, which aims to ensure that everyone masters and practices the Bourbon operating standards and its safety rules. This training center will help guarantee that newcomers adopt the company’s high standards for operations, quality and safety worldwide, as well as reinforce the continuing education programs for existing crews.

“Bourbon must meet an unprecedented recruit challenge by 2010. We have largely anticipated this trend in recent years, and this Bourbon Training Center in Marseilles, which includes this extraordinary AHTS simulator, is just the latest concrete example,” said Jacques de Chateauvieux, Bourbon Chairman and CEO.

This center, to be christened the “Bourbon Training Center“, will be located near the National Merchant Navy School (ENMM) in Marseilles. Bourbon is leading employer of the student officers graduating from the ENMM and the three other French Merchant Navy Schools.

Daniel Louédec, Director of the Marseilles ENMM, said, “This partnership between Bourbon and the ENMM is clearly a strong signal for the profession, because it allows to benefit from the best resources of each partner in order to offer the best training possible and continue to adapt it.”